Big Stick

LP

Image of Big Stick - LP
Record Label
Drag Racing Underground

About this item

It's been fifteen years since Big Stick's last proper record release. That's an even longer period of time than some winged cicada bugs take to rise from the deep depths of earth and sing us their noisy repertoire of songs. Big Stick's dynamic duo of John Gill and Yanna Trance are pleased to finally have a new LP's worth of material to share. This new album is simply titled LP. It's a long playing collection of Big Stick selections cultivated over several years.

This release is a joint effort between Big Stick's new Drag Racing Underground record label and Forte Music Distribution. Gill and Trance performed most of the vocals and instrumentation on the album's fifteen tracks. Some of Big Stick's musician friends appear on select songs. Much of the recording was done at their own studio, using a vintage Otari MX-70 16-track analog tape machine. Big Stick are self-produced. Gill plays guitar and keyboard. Trance performs percussion, bass, and keyboards. Both of the duo write and compose.

Big Stick's new LP includes a retrospective collage of Big Stick photographs and images, along with photos of Gill's and Trance's artwork as well as liner notes describing curious facts and trivia related to the duo and the featured songs. This long playing release is available on 12" vinyl & CD. Both formats include a special bonus "SOME OF BEST OF BIG STICK" EP CD with ten 'classic' Big Stick tracks.

Some appreciation of the guest musicians who've contributed to this new release...Fred Schneider of the B52s has long expressed a desire to record with Big Stick. John and Yanna have always admired Fred's unique vocal approach, so when they penned "HOT SAUCE" it seemed like an appropriate time to bring in Fred. Another admired vocalist is Groovie Mann from My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult. In the mid-90's Big Stick toured with the industrial pioneers. Big Stick wrote "VENOMOUS VOODOO PRINCESS" as a duet for Groovie and Yanna. The track also features longtime friend Tom Timko on bari sax. Timko also plays on "MARLIN IN A MAIDEN'S DRESS." Tom's credits include gigs with Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, among others. John and Yanna have an endearing friendship with Jerry A of Poison Idea. Jerry contributes vocals on "DARLING RAVEN." Drummer Johnny Kelly of Type O Negative notoriety is a like-minded hot rodding friend who hangs out at the local drags with Big Stick. Kelly handles the drums on "HOOCHIE EXPRESS." Other musicians featured on selected tracks include “first lady of sass brass” Paula Henderson on bari sax, “the man of sensual trombone” Dave Smoota Smith, Satoru Ohashi and Alicia Rau on torrid trumpets, Jim Sorensen of El Muchacho on percussion, John Thompson on bass guitar - and last but certainly not least, Shawn Banks and Mark Lopez finessed their aesthetically accelerating fingers on bongos.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A brilliantly clashing, rawkous collection, rich with gritty distorted riffage and snapping, snarling vocals in classic Big Stick fashion. Walls of guitar noise and throbbing chug meet headfirst in a sweaty basement to great effect, AND it comes with a 'Best Of Big Stick' sampler CD! What's not to love?

TRACK LISTING

01. Burning Rubber
02. Calamari Coco Butter
03. Darling Raven
04. Hoochie Express
05. Hot Sauce
06. Koochie Koochie Time
07. Marlin In A Maiden's Dress
08. Metaphysic Al Speaker
09. Pleased To Meet You
10. Potato Chip Dip
11. Rascal
12. Soul Shaker Town
13. Stop The Ball Shit
14. Venomous Voodoo Princess
15. Whiplash

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